ROTARY GRAM

October 9, 2003

President Chessa welcomed the club with a hearty 'Good Afternoon".

Paulette offered the invocation and lead us in the pledge.

Chessa called for the introduction of guests and they included:

Dr. Jodie Petersen, Speaker

Visiting Rotarians, Bill and Chris Nelson for the UK and Dean Elliot from

Texas

Guests of Ted Robson included John Windsor and John Lopez.

Bruce Moss was the guest of Past President Rick O'Block.

In the company Chip Lile were two young men and this year's exchange

students, Yuta from Japan and 'Dew' from Thailand.

Announcements

Chessa announced that the recent district conference, the club received

a Presidential Citation for the work accomplished by the club under the

leadership of immediate Past President, Jeff Brown.

This year's Oktoberfest is Friday, October 24th, with the club serving

lunch and dinner under the direction of Paulette Church. Service

opportunities are still available so see Paulette and get a job. Silent

auction items are needed!

Chessa reminded us about the Holiday Train, December 6th, with on-board

fun, snacks and beverages. Enjoy the company of your fellow Rotarians and

the spirit of the holidays.

Chessa received a mailing about this year's Rotary International Rose

Parade float entitled Symphony of Service. Rotarians can participate with

their dollars.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Jennifer Simon

indicated that breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women and that

the 8th annual Ribbons for Life luncheon was to be held at the Double Tree

on October 15th.

Chessa will hold a Fireside Chat for newer members with red badges and

committee chairs on October 22nd at her home. More details to follow.

The Rotary International annual convention will be held Osaka, Japan.

Go to http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/downloadcenter/events/index.html to

read all the information. There are early registration discounts.

Ralph Martin told us of the benefit for State Trooper Chris Catrone,

shot during a routine traffic stop, to be held Wednesday night at the Ute

Mtn. Ute Casino. 6 - 9 PM, $12 per person, $20 per couple. The Bar - D

Wranglers will entertain.

Frank Valen announced a meeting right after the club meeting on October

16th, for all those interested in developing a fund raiser based on bringing

a hot rod rally to Durango. Lake pipes, baby moons, glass packs, chopped

and channeled, tuck and roll, chrome reverse, Hurst shifters, positraction

rear ends, yeah baby!

Paulette was the 'This is Your (my) Life' presenter and she packed a lot

into her 5 minutes. Born in Phoenix to parents that both served in WW II,

she says she developed a bad temper out of an over active sense of fairness.

Ultimately, she turned into a people person and winning a 7th grade

science fair encouraged her to 'be something'. She played the piano, sang

and was in a bell choir.

She continued to do well in college, participating in student

government, and graduated with honors and citations with a degree in

education. She taught 4th, 5th and 6th grades and somehow found the time to

earn a Masters in Counseling.

Along the trail (Mpls), she started a green house business, had a home

day care and was a substitute teacher. In Iowa she taught grad school and

in '99 found a job in Durango and now reigns as Director of the Durango

Adult Education Center. We and our community all benefit from Paulette's

presence. Thanks for everything you do.

Steve Redding and Susan 'Doc' Sanders drew, unsuccessfully, for the

queen of hearts from the deck. The pot now exceeds $350.

Bill Wright and Bud Deering did SAA duty recognizing Mark, Frank and Jim

W. for October birthdays and Bill read a horoscope.

Program

Bob Salzer introduced the program, including a CDC video on West Nile

Virus and the speaker, Jodie Petersen, DVM, who took questions after the

video. RI was one of the cosponsors of the video. A thorough review of WNV

can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website at

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.

The video pointed out a number of important points. They include:

-The disease was first recognized in 1999.

-The disease is contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito.

-People over 50 years old are at greatest risk.

-Over 4000 cases have been recorded.

-284 people have died from WNV.

-162 species of birds have been found to carry the virus.

-80% of humans that contract the disease show no symptoms.

-20% of humans that contract the disease exhibit some symptoms such as

aches, fever, nausea, vomiting and rash, for which there is no treatment.

-1/150th of the 20% progress into encephalitis or meningitis and 10% of

those die.

-Donated blood and transplanted organs present a small and diminishing risk.

-There is a low risk of transmission from an infected pregnant woman to the

child.

-There is no specific treatment for WNV, just intensive supporting care,

including IV treatments and the use of a ventilator.

-With no human vaccine, prevention is the key. Avoid mosquito bites, use

insect repellants with a 50% concentration of Deet, wear long pants and

shirts, fix window screens and destroy or treat mosquito breeding habitats

(standing water, even in very small amounts).

-As of summer, '03, there are 14,000 reported infections in horses, mules

and donkeys.

-30% of infected horses die or need to be put down.

-There are 60 horses in the region that test positive for WNV, curiously,

almost all south of SR 160.

-A vaccine is available, consult your vet for the proper information.

-Consult the local and state health departments for information on treatment

and prevention.

Chessa thanked Jodie and Bob for the information and presented Jodie

with the speaker's gift. With nothing more for the good of Rotary, Chessa

closed the meeting.